Cheap rope ladder

Phoenix of Hamble

Phoenix of Hamble

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Saved a few quid by making my own rope ladder....

And it looks a lot better than some of the bought ones, even if I do say so myself!

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Made from poly rope bought on ebay for £5.... and two wooden broom handles bought from local tat shop for £1 each...

A saw, a drill, and a bit of varnish and bob's yer uncle...

URL for how to tie is http://www.geocities.com/roo_two/ladder.html.... dead easy...

The wood doesn't actually add any structural value... the ladder will work without it... just keeps the two sides apart and makes it easier to use....

Beware though... you'll need more rope than you think.... this one has 5 steps, 14" apart, and used 20m of 10mm rope.....

As its poly, it'll float, so no prop fouling issues... and useful for me as both a boarding ladder for swimming, and also as a further aid to MOB recovery....

Hope it helps someone else.....
 
I've an old one that I acquired with Silkie and have been thinking of refurbishing and this looks very good. However I've been thinking that it might be necessary to incorporate some kind of stand-off to keep the rungs away from the hull and make it easier to gain a foothold on them.

Have you considered this and, if so, what did you conclude?
 
Looks nice.

As you say, 'cheapo broom handles' not vital to structure ... just as well!

Built one 20 yrs ago (before I fitted the stern ladder!) with mahogany slats (had some 'laying around' ) and simple knots through holes. Still use it to get off at the front when impatient and dried on the beach.

Vic
 
Yes... did consider this.... figured that by the time i've wrapped the rope around the wood, i've got 2" of width, so thats enough to get a toe on.... plus, my topsides turn in reasonably sharply near the stern, so probably not an issue.... soon as its warmer, then i'll test it!!!!!!!

Wouldn't be hard though to make some ply 'triangles' and fix them on the outer end of the broom handle bits (with a bit of padding of some sort to stop it marking the hull) to hold it off a few more inches if it doesn't hold far enough off to be useable.....
 
[ QUOTE ]
'cheapo broom handles' not vital to structure ... just as well!

[/ QUOTE ] That was my main concern initially.... then I thought about it, and figured that even with cheap broom handles, I'd still struggle to break an 8" long piece even with a hammer, so probably good enough!.... I did varnish it pretty heavily, so it should be quite waterproof, and hence not rot... at least for a few years anyway....
 
Re: Cheap rope ladder + another design ...

To keep of the side and give a bit of toe-room .... rubber door-stops ?

NAS - very nice looking job ..... bet that kept you happy and occupied for a while !!

Another way is yo have 2 ropes with the 4 ends at bottom together. Short splice different rope ends together - so that you effectively create a cradle of rope.
Take 4" wide 1" plank and cut sections about 9 - 10" long. 1" in from end on edges cut in slots to take rope either side.
Fit first step into the cradle of rope with splices underneath crossed. Now with strong 2mm or similar codline secure ropes together above the step - so that ropes pull tight into slots.... leaving reasonable length free of seizing. Now fit next step and decide spacing ... now seize together both ropes UNDER the step both sides, ropes into slots, seize together above so that this step is also locked into place .... repeat till you have enough rope left at top to form the fastening loop ......

On board ship when making Pilot ladders in similar fashion - a H frame is made to set the steps at equal spacing ...... as you fit each one ...

Excerpt from HMSO Shipping Acts Pilot Ladder Construction and Use :

" (4) The steps of the pilot ladder shall—
(a) be made of ash, oak, elm, or teak or other hardwood or other material of equivalent strength, stiffness and durability. The four lowest steps may be of rubber or other material of equivalent strength, stiffness and durability;
(b) be made in one piece, and in the case of wooden steps free of knots;
(c) have an efficient non-slip surface;
(d) be not less than 480 millimetres long, 115 millimetres wide and 25 millimetres in depth, excluding any non-slip device or grooving;
(e) be equally spaced not less than 300 millimetres nor more than 380 millimetres apart; and
(f) be secured in such a manner that each will remain horizontal;
Provided that—
(i) no pilot ladder shall have more than two replacement steps which are secured in position by a method different from that used in the original construction of the ladder, and any steps so secured shall be replaced as soon as reasonably practicable by steps secured in position by the method used in the original construction of the pilot ladder; and
(ii) when any replacement step is secured to the side ropes of the pilot ladder by means of grooves in the sides of the step, such grooves shall be in the longer sides of the step.

(5) The side ropes of the pilot ladder shall consist of two manila ropes not less than 18 millimetres in diameter on each side. Each rope shall be left uncovered by any other material, and shall be continuous with no joins below the top step.
"

Working with rope and creating articles is one of my favourite hobbies .....
 
Re: Cheap rope ladder + another design ...

Would this ladder meet the stringent specifications under the european directive? I had to fit my boat with four metal buckets of which two had to have a lanyard of 27.5 metres,I still have the buckets for getting water out of the well!In respect of the type of ladder illustrated it should be climbed in the manner of a circus artiste.Bon Nadal.
 
On arrival back to my boat from the pub I found I had mis-calculated the tides and had to swim back to my boat. That was not a problem but getting back on the boat was!!!

After that I made myself a broom handle ladder, nowhere near as posh as yours.

We used it to rescue a bloke, who had fallen off his boat in the Norfolk Broads. Unfortunatly it couldnt take his 18 stone bulk and he snapped one of its rungs.
 
Climbing up .....

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Look carefully at stern .... lower right 1/4. You can see the two hinged steps fitted. They are great from a dinghy - but totally 101% useless for getting out of the water ...... In fact because of the distance from top one to getting over the stern-rail - they are rarely used.

I have a Lazilas 5 rung plastic / alloy clip on ladder now that hooks over ..... Having fallen in and not been able to climb back on - I decided that Lazilas should provide better means.

With rope ladders - there is the tendency to float and then you cannot get that "initial leg-up" .... first step to start the climb up. I have two rope jobs for beaching etc. Now I usually resort to the Lazilas job on each occasion. The bronze steps fitted to stern - cosmetic appendages !!
 
Fenders & Sail ties ....

I know terrible isn't it ..... the state some of the crew leave you in nowadays .....

Actually my other fenders are on other side - just in case I changed mind on which side to !! Sail ties ..... was just a quick lash-up before berthing .... photo was taken literally minutes after tieing up ....

But I shall try to do better Sir !!

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Re: Fenders & Sail ties ....

You know what I mean - it's all rush for the pub !!!! Actually once Newport plug is pulled - it does go out quite quickly .... but yes litery licence used !!

Shame is crew didn't tidy up even later .... sailed next day in same state !!! Must keel-haul next time ....
 
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